The Distraction Index publishes a frozen, immutable weekly record of U.S. political events scored on two independent axes:
🔴 A-Score: Constitutional damage (governance harm, reversibility, precedent)
🟠 B-Score: Distraction/Hype (media amplification, strategic manipulation)
When damage is high but coverage is low, that's a red flag.
59+ weeks of data · 1,500+ scored events · 210+ smokescreen pairs detected
Independent · Ad-free · Open source
Created by @sgharlow
| Website | https://distractionindex.org |
| GitHub | https://github.com/sgharlow/distraction |
| Methodology | https://distractionindex.org/methodology |
| Weekly Report | https://distractionindex.org/week/current |
Tracking: cultural institutions, federal facilities, resource allocation
"Kennedy Center Closure for Renovations" scored 2.2/100 for constitutional damage this week.
The Distraction Index monitors 29+ events weekly across dozens of policy areas.
https://distractionindex.org/week/2026-06-21
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
Week of 2026-06-21 by the numbers:
29 political events tracked
Avg. constitutional damage: 15/100
Avg. distraction score: 46/100
3 high-damage events
22 high-distraction events
Data doesn't lie. https://distractionindex.org/week/2026-06-21
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
Event spotlight: "Executive Order Restricting Vote-by-Mail"
Constitutional damage: 100/100
Distraction score: 43.3/100
Getting attention, but is it the right kind?
https://distractionindex.org/event/981ee890-2c51-40a6-a1a5-5e324dde691d
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
This week's Distraction Index (2026-06-21):
29 events scored.
Highest constitutional damage: "Executive Order Restricting Vote-by-Mail" (100/100)
Top distraction: "Record High Deportations Under Trump Administration" (76.3/100)
Full report: https://distractionindex.org/week/2026-06-21
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
In 60+ weeks of tracking the Distraction Index, we've scored 1,500+ political events on two axes:
🔴 Constitutional damage (real governance harm)
🟠 Distraction/Hype (media amplification)
When damage is high but coverage is low — that's the pattern we exist to expose.
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
Smokescreen alert:
While "Record High Deportations Under Trump Administration" dominated headlines (distraction: 76.3/100)...
"U.S. Military Presence Continues at Mexico Border" flew under the radar (damage: 32.8/100, coverage: 30.5/100).
This is the pattern. https://distractionindex.org/smokescreen
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
Week-over-week Distraction Index:
Avg. constitutional damage: DOWN 4 points (19 → 15)
Events tracked: 45 → 29
High-damage events: 8 → 3
Trend matters. https://distractionindex.org/week/2026-06-21
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
In 60+ weeks of tracking the Distraction Index, we've scored 1,500+ political events on two axes:
🔴 Constitutional damage (real governance harm)
🟠 Distraction/Hype (media amplification)
When damage is high but coverage is low — that's the pattern we exist to expose.
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
Smokescreen pair spotted:
Distraction: "Supreme Court Rulings on Birthright Citizenship" (hype: 65.5/100)
Buried: "Executive Order Restricting Vote-by-Mail" (damage: 100/100)
One dominated your feed. The other actually mattered.
https://distractionindex.org/smokescreen
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
This week's Distraction Index (2026-06-21):
29 events scored.
Highest constitutional damage: "Executive Order Restricting Vote-by-Mail" (100/100)
Top distraction: "Record High Deportations Under Trump Administration" (76.3/100)
Full report: https://distractionindex.org/week/2026-06-21
#DistractionIndex #Democracy #ConstitutionalRights #CivicTech
